Chen Yuan Feng (translated name)
China Press, 10-11-2014

Chong Sin Woon is the MCA Youth Chief also a senator – he is now the next leader for MCA. He is proficient in three languages and good at managing the education issues. After he is appointed as the MCA Youth Chief, he is sure to be in for some revolutions.

Liew Chin Tong is the Kluang MP, DAP Political Education Director and Johor DAP state liaison committee Chairman. He is the main man and elite within the young blood of the party.

Recently, there had been dialogues organised for the mass communication students of New Era to chat with Chong Sin Woon and Liew Chin Tong separately. The students have memorable impressions on these two young political leaders.

In the meeting room at the second floor of Parliament, Chong Sin Woon explained to the students about democracy politics in our country and gave suitable answers to the sharp questions raised by the students.

The students’ questions were not well crafted, but this showed that those were genuine questions. The thoughts of most Rakyat are simply so direct. Sometimes it does not feel right but we cannot ask all the Rakyat to be rational. After all, the political topics and the issues of the country can get too complicated at times, the answers that the Rakyat get may not be reasonable but they have to be at least plausible and compassionate.

The students questioned Chong Sin Woon about the issues of Kuantan Chong Hwa secondary school and Unified Exam Certification, his achievement in the field of Chinese education, the recent Umno general assembly to discuss on the Sedition Act and whether MCA will join the cabinet etc.

Chong Sin Woon is very frank in answering and explaining the questions. He had on a few occasions admitted that MCA made some mistakes. The conversation gave an overall impression to the students that this is an ambitious and capable MCA Youth Chief. He tried hard to get the students to approve of politics, and he hoped that the students can view MCA and BN from a fairer and more objective perspective.

On the other hand, the conversation with Liew Chin Tong was held in the VIP room of a restaurant. He is an alumnus of New Era Chinese Faculty so he exudes a better sense of familiarity to his juniors. Throughout the conversation, he spoke about his learning experience in New Era which has very much inspired the students.

Racism is the shackles of political parties

The questions that the students asked Liew Chin Tong are also very sharp, especially regarding the PR crisis caused by the Selangor Menteri Besar commotion and ISIS’ desire to build an Islamic state etc. The answers and explanations of Liew Chin Tong fully showed his active thinking and deep analysis. He is of the view that there are many variables in these issues.

The “variables” that were raised by Liew Chin Tong mainly exist in PAS, if the two branches within this party broke off and cause some party members to leave, and if the leavers would choose to join DAP or PKR then the foundation of the partnership might be altered. Whereas if the leavers choose to join Umno, it will further affect the voting trend of the voters.

The impressions that the students have on Liew Chin Tong were that he has a mind of his own, clearheaded, fluent, confident, relaxed and without psychological baggage which reflected in his speech.

Some students pointed out that although Chong Sin Woon and Liew Chin Tong are from different parties but they have a common idea – they both wish our country’s political parties can move towards the direction of “non-racist”. Regardless of MCA or DAP, they should both come out of the racial frame to care about the Rakyat and should earn the approval from different races.

Liew Chin Tong hopes for more Malays to join DAP to wash away the racist image of DAP painted by those with malice. Chong Sin Woon instead hopes MCA when solving various topics it would not be bound by “the shackles of only caring about the rights of the Chinese”. They both think that Malaysians should be better than race and be equal.

With regard to seniority, both Chong Sin Woon and Liew Chin Tong are the fourth or fifth generation in their respective parties. They are the “future” leaders and their performance at the present is merely a “process”. Between the two of them, who is able to go beyond the distance? Perhaps after another two general elections we will get to see their ups and downs and witness the political development of our country through them. In the end, the winner takes it all.

Original Source: 張盛聞和劉鎮東